In 1983, a man named Lewis recorded an album named L’Amour, which was released on the unknown label R.A.W. And that’s about all we know.
The record itself is a delicate, whispered album, reflecting the way the artist himself – spectral, movie star-like – almost disappears into the grey of the cover. It should come as no surprise that it failed to shout loudly enough to be noticed, another private press album that sank without trace.
The ingredients are simple: smooth synthesizers, feather-light piano, ethereal, occasionally inaudible vocals and the gentle plucking of acoustic guitars. But the effects are arresting: a spine-tingling, sombre album that echoes Springsteen’s Nebraska or Angelo Badalamenti’s atmospheric soundtracks. Later, Arthur Russell would grasp for something similar on the epochal World Of Echo LP.
L’Amour is a true discovery of the blog age, uncovered in an Edmonton flea-market by collector Jon Murphy, passed on to private press fanatic Aaron Levin, shared on the internet and speculated over by lovers of curious LPs. There’s almost no information about Lewis or the album on the internet. There’s precious little on the sleeve: a dedication to Sports Illustrated supermodel Christie Brinkley, a photo credit for Ed Colver, the noted L.A. punk rock photographer, and credits for engineer Bob Kinsey and synth player Philip Lees. All that was known of Lewis is conjecture: a rumor that he was a con artist who fled after not paying for L’Amour’s photo-shoot and a dubious theory that he was not actually of this earth.
When Light In The Attic looked to release the album, they set out to investigate the mystery. They found some answers, but more intrigue too. Colver was able to fill in some blanks. Firstly, Lewis is a pseudonym. The man the photographer met was named Randall Wulff. He stayed in the Beverley Hills Hilton, drove a white convertible Mercedes and dated a girl who looked like a model. He paid for his photo session with Colver with a $250 check, which bounced.
Eventually, the trail led to Alberta, Canada, where that first LP had been found. Liner notes writer Jack Fleischer along with master detective Markus Armstrong found Randall’s nephew, who remembered Randall as a stockbroker. His vague recollections include a visit to Randall’s apartment, with all-white furniture and that beautiful girlfriend in situ. Crucially, he offered another name – another of Randall’s pseudonyms – which led to a Vancouver studio and the revelation that Lewis had recorded three or four albums of “soft religious music” there. Alas, even the new nom de plume led only to dead ends.
Lewis remains a ghost, a total mystery, but the music will be heard. The album is being pressed for the first time in more than 30 years, and widely distributed for the first time ever. Lewis’s royalties will be placed in escrow until he makes himself known. Perhaps you know Lewis. Perhaps Lewis is you. The only certainty is this: Lewis is about to find a whole bunch of new fans.
I Thought The World of You
Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I keep myself in line
I really don't care about politics
It's just a waste of time
I'm not as dumb as you think I am
I might know a thing or two
I really don't care about nothing at all
I really don't care about world peace
I try not to be a jerk
I really don't care about the meaning of life
Or my place in the universe
I'm not as dumb as you think I am
I might know a thing or two
I really don't care about nothing at all
But I thought the world of you
I'm not phobic, phillic, sick or blind
People wanna judge me
They exercise their open minds
Call me names and make fun of me
I'm not as dumb as you think I am
I might know a thing or two
I really don't care about nothing at all
But I thought the world of you
I really don't care about nothing at all, but I thought the world of you
I really don't care about nothing at all, but I thought the world of you
In Lewis's song "I Thought the World of You," the first stanza establishes the singer's disinterest in typical worldly concerns such as politics and global issues. He claims to keep himself in line and avoid being a jerk, but ultimately doesn't care much about anything. However, the chorus reveals that his one exception to this apathy is his feelings towards someone he once held in high regard. He acknowledges that despite his usual indifference, he thought the world of this person.
Line by Line Meaning
I really don't care about world affairs
I am not interested in global events or politics.
I keep myself in line
I am disciplined and responsible.
I really don't care about politics
Politics are not important or meaningful to me.
It's just a waste of time
Politics are a useless pursuit.
I'm not as dumb as you think I am
I am smarter than people give me credit for.
I might know a thing or two
I have some knowledge or intelligence.
I really don't care about nothing at all
I do not care about anything.
But I thought the world of you
You were important and valuable to me.
I really don't care about world peace
The idea of world peace does not interest me.
I try not to be a jerk
I strive to be respectful and polite.
I really don't care about the meaning of life
The purpose or significance of life is not something I contemplate.
Or my place in the universe
I am not concerned with my role in the grand scheme of things.
I'm not phobic, phillic, sick or blind
I do not have any extreme fears, preferences, illnesses or physical impairments.
People wanna judge me
Others are quick to criticize me.
They exercise their open minds
They use their supposed open-mindedness to belittle me.
Call me names and make fun of me
They insult and mock me.
I really don't care about nothing at all, but I thought the world of you
I may not care about much in this world, but you were special to me.
Contributed by Molly N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@danielbaker7629
this guy was in an artical in maxim. he was a wall street high roller, lost his house in a mudslide, then he checked in to the beverly hills willshire. he rented out a studio and laid down 10 track in a couple of days then vanished. he was only recently discovered in canada.
@danielbaker7629
recently as in 2015
@lesipapo7876
Dude, im reading the issue right now, with Emily didonato on the cover.
@kevindoyle3614
I read this story I was griped by it.
@utqiagvik1991
Polyphonic provided me to another great album, that I would probably never find.
@mantra3000
Hello,what is Polyphonic?
@utqiagvik1991
@@mantra3000 Great channel about music.
@brianlaakso1117
words can't explain how lovely you are GIRRRRL
@scubacat6156
this song is exquisite and tragic. it completely captures the feeling of being fooled by someone you loved.
@LenhasGS
Hoax or not, this guy made/makes wonderful music. And the tale behind it makes it even better